Salary data · BLS OEWS 2025
Anthropologist Salary in the US
A Anthropologist earns a national median of $70,770 per year. Here is how pay breaks down across US metro areas.
In Brief
Anthropologist (BLS occupation 19-3091) earns a national median of $70,770 and a mean of $75,620 per year as of 2025. The highest-paying metro is Boston-Cambridge-Nashua at $117,080. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS.
National pay
Top-paying US metro areas
Ranked by median annual wage · BLS OEWS 2025
About this data
All wages come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, 2025 release, mapped to occupation code 19-3091 (Anthropologists and Archeologists). Figures are gross annual wages before tax and reflect employees only — self-employed and freelance earnings are not included.
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How much does a Anthropologist earn in the US?▼
The national median wage for a Anthropologist is $70,770 per year (mean $75,620), per the BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics for 2025.
Which US cities pay Anthropologists the most?▼
The top-paying metro areas are Boston-Cambridge-Nashua ($117,080), Washington-Arlington-Alexandria ($87,400), Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro ($85,160).
Where does this Anthropologist salary data come from?▼
All figures are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, 2025 release, occupation code 19-3091. Wages are gross annual, before tax.
Is Anthropologist a well-paid career?▼
At a median of $70,770/year, Anthropologist pay sits above the US median for all occupations. Pay varies widely by metro — see the city table above.